Jodhpur RIFF: The musical extravaganza is back with its 13th edition from October 6th to 10th

by EVENTFAQS Bureau Entertainment | September 8, 2022 | News

The 13th edition of Jodhpur RIFF is back with a bang after two-years and is scheduled to be held from October 6th to 10th at Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort and will play host to over 250 amazing performers, showcasing the best of Rajasthani, Indian, and global roots music. The Jodhpur RIFF (Rajasthan International Folk Festival) is India’s premier international roots music festival of folk, indigenous, jazz, reggae, classical, and world music.

HH Maharaja Gajsingh II, Marwar-Jodhpur, Chief Patron of the festival. “Folk music is the music of the people, across generations. Jodhpur RIFF’s collaborations, in India and other countries, have evolved into an idiom of sorts for this genre. More importantly, Jodhpur RIFF has played a key role in building a focal point for and nurturing this part of the country’s vibrant ecosystem of cultural heritage by providing opportunities, inspiration, and livelihood for traditional Rajasthani artists.”

Divya Bhatia, Director of the festival, said, “After a two-year hiatus, Jodhpur RIFF’s comeback this year will explore exciting new acts, new genres, and new kinds of collaborations. ‘Citadels of the Sun’, for instance, is a unique collaboration that began between musicians in Ireland and Jodhpur three years ago but ripened online during the pandemic. This ‘online alliance’ allowed us to explore ways and means of getting artists back on their feet during COVID-19.”

He further added, “Also, for one of our dawn concerts this year we have traditional Khasi musicians. And we will be showcasing ‘indie’ musicians Bawari Basanti and Harpreet Singh for the first time.”

Highlights from Jodhpur RIFF 2022

RIFF Dawns

Apart from music from Rajasthan’s Meghwal community, Shabad and Nirguni Bhajans and Kabir Vani in Madhya Pradesh’s Malwi Folk style, one of this year’s Jodhpur RIFF dawns will be ‘A Khasi Dawn’ with traditional music from Meghalaya.

Dance Bootcamp

Audiences will be able to learn more about traditional Mexican as well as Kalbeliya dance forms from Jaciel Neri, choreographer and founder of ‘Moving Borders’, a Mexican dance production company, and Asha Sapera, a reputed singer, dancer, and performer from Rajasthan’s Kalbeliya tribe.

Indie Roots

While remaining committed to a folk core, Jodhpur RIFF expands its spotlight this year to include in its ambit independent musicians Harpreet Singh, who will be rendering Kabir, Bulleh Shah, and original soul songs, and Bawari Basanti, who promises to enthral the audience with classical-electronica-indie sounds.

Mainstage

Hebrew and Arabic Soul will meet Acoustic Rock at Jodhpur RIFF, courtesy Riff Cohen. Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Cohen is a singer-songwriter, performer, and composer who lives and performs across Israel and Europe. She juggles and experiments with a wide range of genres including French Pop, Avant-Garde, traditional North African music, and classic rock. She sings in French, English, and Hebrew.

‘Citadels of the Sun’ a collaboration born out of the many folkloric, musical, and historical connections between India and Ireland, was begun with in-person sessions, in 2019, but continued online because of the pandemic. The act features stellar musicians from Ireland and

Rajasthan. During its digital evolution, each side of the collaboration was represented by Marty Coyle and Asin Khan Langa. To be showcased at this year’s festival, this act stands up today as a testament to how technology can change the music-scape and how well Jodhpur RIFF (which steered this collaboration) is cued into this.

RIFF Rustle

As is customary, a smorgasbord of performers will come together in a grand jam or ‘rustle', during the festival’s grand finale. This year’s rustle will be led by Bombay Brass’s ace saxophonist and producer Rhys Sebastian and drummer Jehangir Jehangir (aka JJ).

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